Six people were arrested and more than P1.2 billion worth of shabu were confiscated in the series of anti-criminality and anti-illegal illegal drug campaigns being spearheaded by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Police Maj. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr.
Confiscated during the combined operations conducted by the Regional Intelligence Division (RID), Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB), and Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) from Cubao, Quezon City that ended in Sta. Maria, Bulacan on September 8 were assorted firearms, ammunition, and parts of firearms.
The suspects were identified as Mark Anthony Verona Jumadiao, Paquito Alberto Salvadiro, Benjamin Postrada Sosa, Noel Cuaresma Nicolas, Louie Ocampo Pavia, Nathan Arante Nicolas and Remyna Bianca Palapar Lamorena.
Violations of Republic Act 10591, Sec. 28 (Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of Firearms and Ammunition) and Sec. 32 (Unlawful Manufacture, Importation, Sale or Disposition of Firearms or Ammunition or Parts) were filed against them.
Meanwhile, 181 kilograms of shabu with an estimated street value of P1.2 billion pesos were seized in a buy bust operation on September 9 at about 9:27 p.m. in Molino 3, Bacoor, Cavite.
The inter-agency operatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, AFP-Task Force NOAH, Bureau of Customs, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency were able to halt the transport of Chinese-labelled packs, which were about to be distributed to the southern part of the country.
Suspects identified as Danilo Untavar, 51, and Basher Bangon, 59, who allegedly opened fire on the operatives, were killed during the operation.
Based on intelligence reports, Bangon is a top-level drug personality and the leader of the Basher Drug Group.
The suspects were using the area as a warehouse of the illegal drugs and were tagged as the “bodegeros” of a Chinese drug trafficking group operating in Zambales, where four alleged Chinese drug dealers died in an armed encounter recently.
“I would like to give a stern warning to everyone, especially itong mga drug pushers. Well sabi nga sa inyo, our government will never stop, we will never cease in our campaign against all forms of criminality lalong lalo na sa illegal drugs, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms. Hindi po tayo titigil nyan,” NCRPO chief Danao said.
“This will be a ‘no let-up’ campaign against all forms of illegal drugs. And if you will fight it out with our law enforcement agencies, isa lang ang pupuntahan ninyo,” he added.
Danao believes the illegal drugs could be used by other groups to finance their activities related to the 2022 elections and commended the operating units for the successful decrease of shabu supply in the country.
